Volunteer opportunities

One of the goals of United Way of Inner Wisconsin's Volunteer Center is to recruit and match volunteers for nonprofit organizations needing your help in south Wood and Adams counties. The following are this week's volunteer opportunities.

Safe Routes To School (wisconsin Rapids Police Department): 18 volunteers are needed to participate in a "Walking School Bus" to Mead Elementary School. Volunteers escort groups of children to school for the 2013-14 school year. Mead Elementary School is the first location selected for this program with hopes of extending it to other schools in the district. There are three routes and two volunteers are needed per route per day. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. (mornings only). Volunteers must agree to a background check, need to be able to walk up to one mile and be available for a one- to two-hour training session.

Learning For Life (united Way): United Way's Women's Leadership Council is recruiting reading mentors to be part of our Learning for Life Initiative at Humke Elementary School in Nekoosa as well as at our new site, Mead Charter Elementary School in Wisconsin Rapids. We are looking for 20 to 25 adults for each location, who are willing to volunteer one day per week for 40 to 60 minutes throughout the school year and make a significant impact on the life of a child. There are a variety of times available to meet your scheduling needs and the opportunity to work on reading skills, changing a child forever. The program will officially begin in October with a training session to be held at each location in September.

Acorn Apartments: Acorn Apartments is housing for handicapped individuals. The tenants love to play card games and board games. They also love to help someone prepare a meal. Crafts are a big hit, too. There are funds from the soda machine that can be used to buy food to prepare or purchase items for crafts. They are looking for volunteer groups to help out: from groups of teens through senior citizens. One requirement is to meet with the resident manager or tenant service coordinator to set up time, date and specifics of craft, cooking, etc. Notice by management will be given to tenants.